Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Aldermen Rodgers and Smyth.

          No declarations of interest were reported.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1  Relevant Background Information

1.1Members are reminded that, at your meeting on 16th April, you agreed that a special meeting be held to consider the following application for the grant of an Amusement Permit under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985:

Premises and Location              Ref. No.             Applicant

Erinvale Amusement Arcade    WK/2012/0290   Mr Colin Cavan

1b Erinvale Drive

Belfast, BT10 0GE

1.2The application is for a total of 40 gaming machines, of which 30 machines are to pay out a maximum all cash prize of £25.00. The other 10 machines are for amusement purposes only with no cash prize. In the case of premises which have machines with a maximum cash prize of £25.00, admission is restricted to persons aged 18.

1.3The proposed opening hours of the premises, as specified on the application, are:

Monday to Saturday              10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Sunday                                   12.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

1.4The proposed arcade is to be located in a vacant unit in a small row of single storey shops. The area of the premises intended to be licensed to provide amusement by means of gaming machines is the ground floor. A location map has been forwarded to Members.

2          Key Issues

2.1       Members are reminded that the Licensing Committee is responsible for and has full delegated authority for determining all applications relating to the grant of Amusement Permits.

            Objections

2.2       As a result of the public notices of application, the Building Control Service has received a total of 211 letters of objection:

§  172 written representations were received within the 28-day statutory period.

§       30 written representations were received in advance of the application being submitted.

§       9 written representations were received outside the 28-day statutory period. Of these, 3 were received after the report for your previous meeting was prepared

§  of the 211 letters of objections, 4 did not include an address, although they were signed.

2.3       The nature of all the objections are broadly similar and can be summarised as follows:

§  the area is residential, not commercial in nature and an arcade would be out of character for the area

§  the problems of anti-social behaviour caused by youths gathering at the shops will be exacerbated

§  there are road safety, parking and traffic concerns already in the area

§  residents have concerns over noise issues from within, outside and due to traffic at the premises

§  There will be an erosion of residential amenity.

2.4       At the meeting on 16th April, the Committee agreed, in view of the relevance of the objections which had been received and the proximity of the objectors to the premises concerned, to exercise its discretion and consider all of the objections relating to the application. Given the similar nature of the further objections Members may also wish to exercise your discretion to consider these 3 as well.

2.5       Sample copies of the letters of objection received have been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.